It's the end of the world as we know it

Daniel 12:1-3                           Deliverance in Daniel’s apocalypse

(Hebrews 10:11-25)         The new covenant in Christ blood

Mark 13:1-8                             The beginning of Mark’s ‘little apocalypse’

Psalm 16

The Third Sunday of the Kingdom - Mark's Little Apocalypse

It's the end!  

I remember the cartoons in the newspapers that had a man with a sandwich board that read the end of the world is nigh.  And as I grew up with the third millennium approaching, I was certain that the world would end – I think that it is something about growing up – worrying that our time on earth may be cut short by nuclear war, a meteorite or a plague of aliens (something like that).  I used to think that as soon as I got a house, I would build a bomb shelter and buy tons of tinned food so that I could survive the disaster that was certain to happen.

It is, I think, part of human nature to worry about the future, and it is no surprise that although I was certain the game was up and the world would end, this (I think) has happened in every generation since time began.  It is only natural that we worry about plans that we are making – what is going to happen – will all our plans come to nothing?

And today, films and books still reflecting this part of human nature, Harry Potter fights the evil Voldemort – who is going to take over the world – the fight of good and evil fills the cinemas and our imaginations.  Judgment, good versus evil, the end of the world, and the sending of a messiah to save us all – these themes pass down the generations.  It is no accident that the Bible readings for this morning are set against this concern of the world falling apart.

Yes, thousands of years ago, people thought the world was going to end then too…

In Daniel and Mark we are told that this is the case, although we are not told when, we are told that we must change our behaviour to be ready for the judgment that is to come. 

Every generation who has read these passages has looked around at the world – perhaps seeing people and dying with poverty, war and disease, imprisonment and torture, injustices throughout the world, and then against this suffering have decided that things can’t get worse, this must be close to the end of the world.

In the book of Daniel though, rather than seeing the end of the world as a bad thing it is seen as positive, because finally all the suffering will stop and justice will reign.  Daniel longs for a time when wisdom and freedom are a common sight in the world.

Even today, people tend to argue about what is right and tend to bury wisdom in the process.  The biblical dream is of a time when WISDOM will be COMMON SENSE – a time when we won’t even argue about what is right, because it will be plain to see.  We will all agree, and see what needs to be done in the world. 

Sometimes my children as me questions, like can’t we just stop wars? Why don’t’ we fairly distribute the resources of the world?

I find myself saying, Well, it’s not that easy…and then I realise that it is that easy, but in the difficultness of the here and now people have made it complicated.

And that is the important meaning of the reading from Daniel.  One day a time will come, when people realise that it isn’t difficult…it is what must be done.

Back in Jerusalem two thousand years ago the Disciples of an upstart revolutionary from Galilee know this also.  They are sat listening to Jesus on the Mount of Olives – they are looking across the valley to the temple.  Jesus looks across and tells them that all those great buildings will be destroyed.  “When Lord will this be?” they ask? 

At this point Jesus does something quite typical.  He completely ignores them and starts to talk about how they should watch out for those who claim to be acting in His name when they are doing nothing of the sort.  Jesus is not interested in their speculation about when the end of the world will be, he is just telling them to do their best until the time is right. 

Jesus is telling them to be ready.

This part of the Gospel is usually called “Mark’s little apocalypse” - A term I rather like! 

However, unlike most apocalyptic literature, chapter 13 is NOT concerned with signs that provide clues to the timing of future events.  When the disciples ask Jesus for "the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished," (v. 4), Jesus tells them of wars and natural disasters, but then says, "but the end is still to come" and "This is but the beginning of the birth pangs" (vv. 7-8).  In other words, these are NOT really signs of the end but are simply events that they must endure before the end comes.  He cannot help them to know when these events will occur, because "about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father" (as he goes on to say in verse 32).

 

Jesus is saying – Do not worry about the end times, but thank God for the harvest of good works taking place every day – extraordinary acts by ordinary people.

This is a great theme in the run up to Christmas – extraordinary works by ordinary people!  I think that I will write my Christmas sermon on it.  Throughout the history of Christianity, it really has been the small things that have made a difference, the individual kindnesses that make links between people.

As Advent approaches and we prepare for the Great Feast of Christmas. I have been thinking a lot about these words of Jesus –

·      How do we judge the health of a church community? 

·      How do we ensure that we are looking to the future, not with trepidation and anxiety, but with hope? 

·      How do we continue being a beacon of joy for our communities?

There is no better way of finishing this sermon other than by repeating the last few verses of the reading from the letter to the Hebrews and think about our own church as we hear the words.  I have used the old translation…

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised faithful.  And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.